by AJ Cross CONGRATULATIONS to the Walcha Bowls quartet on their big win at the annual Urunga Sunrise Fours Tournament a couple of weekends ago. Club champion Kyle Goodwin teamed up with his father Stephen, Gordon Bird and his brother “Snow” to win all six of their games to claim a sizeable cash prize. WALCHA defeated Sawtell to rack up their sixth win but it was their previous game against Park Beach where the boys had to dig deep that got them over the line. Down 15-13 after the second last end, Walcha drew three shots on the final end to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to the tune of 16-15. TALENTED Aussie rules player Morgan Dunn was awarded his second NIAS AFL Athlete of the Year in succession when the Northern Inland Academy of Sport held the first part of their annual presentations at the Wests Leagues Club in Tamworth last Saturday. CURRENTLY training with the Sydney Swans Academy, Morgan has one session remaining this year and then a couple more early in 2019 before the Swans announce which players progress to the next level. MORGAN has also been selected in a Northern Heat representative team comprising North-West, Northern Rivers and North Coast players to tackle a Queensland side at the Gold Coast Suns home ground early next year. All the best, Morgan. PONY Club NSW held an awards event early last week where a couple of Walcha riders were acknowledged for their efforts with the sport. Matt Ireland received the Keith Lowe award for a 17 to 25-year-old associate rider who has come through the junior ranks of pony club and gives back via instruction, organisation, fundraising etc. THE second equestrian to receive a prize was Shae Partridge, a member of the Glen Innes Pony Club, who picked up a junior service award for her out-of-the-saddle achievements through volunteering, inspiring and helping out younger members of the pony club. Shae is also a very talented member of the Walcha Jillaroos ladies league tag team. EIGHT members of Zone 13’s pony clubs were recognised for their efforts in and out of the saddle by the state’s governing body. Zone 13’s chief instructor Belinda Williamson said she was “extremely proud” to have so many within the region recognised. “WE go to a big effort to put together the paperwork and send it in but they still have to be granted the award, it is not a given,” she told Fairfax Media. “It is a big moment when you put all that together and you send it in and they are granted the awards.” THE Jillaroos have finished second on their Group 19 competition ladder just a couple of points behind minor premiers Uralla. Both Walcha and Uralla have this weekend off before they play each other in the major semi-final the following Saturday at Woodville Oval. The winner will head directly to the grand final while the loser takes on the winner of the minor semi-final between Warialda and Bingara in the elimination preliminary final. WALCHA kept their chances of hosting the Central north minor semi-final alive after defeating Gunnedah 44-12 here at the Park last Saturday. Well done also to the “Reggies” who, despite being out of semi-final contention, recorded a solid 15-12 win over the Red Devils Reserve grade side. WALCHA remain in equal third position on the competition ladder with Narrabri who sunk the Pirates last Saturday 38-37. The Rams travel to Scone this weekend and then have the bye the following Saturday, while Narrabri play Quirindi then Moree in the final two rounds. PIRATES remain competition leaders despite their loss last Saturday currently sitting on 70 points, followed by Moree 67, Walcha 60, Narrabri 60, Barraba/Gwydir 50, Gunnedah 43, Scone 31, Inverell 28 and Quirindi 15. Hopefully, a win over Scone this weekend will seal the deal for a Rams home semi. Go Walcha. A REMINDER that the annual Walcha Golf Club Workplace Challenge is just around the corner. It is played under a three-person ambrose format over 18 holes. Come on, grab a couple of workmates (not compulsory) and put yourself in the frame.

Sports Shorts: Six times lucky for Walcha bowls quartet

Sport Shorts

by AJ Cross

BOWLS

CONGRATULATIONS to the Walcha Bowls quartet on their big win at the annual Urunga Sunrise Fours Tournament a couple of weekends ago. Club champion Kyle Goodwin teamed up with his father Stephen, Gordon Bird and his brother “Snow” to win all six of their games to claim a sizeable cash prize.

WALCHA defeated Sawtell to rack up their sixth win but it was their previous game against Park Beach where the boys had to dig deep that got them over the line. Down 15-13 after the second last end, Walcha drew three shots on the final end to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to the tune of 16-15.

AUSSIE RULES

TALENTED Aussie rules player Morgan Dunn was awarded his second NIAS AFL Athlete of the Year in succession when the Northern Inland Academy of Sport held the first part of their annual presentations at the Wests Leagues Club in Tamworth last Saturday.

CURRENTLY training with the Sydney Swans Academy, Morgan has one session remaining this year and then a couple more early in 2019 before the Swans announce which players progress to the next level.

MORGAN has also been selected in a Northern Heat representative team comprising North-West, Northern Rivers and North Coast players to tackle a Queensland side at the Gold Coast Suns home ground early next year. All the best, Morgan.

PONY CLUB

PONY Club NSW held an awards event early last week where a couple of Walcha riders were acknowledged for their efforts with the sport. Matt Ireland received the Keith Lowe award for a 17 to 25-year-old associate rider who has come through the junior ranks of pony club and gives back via instruction, organisation, fundraising etc.

Walcha defeated Sawtell to rack up their sixth win but it was their previous game against Park Beach where the boys had to dig deep that got them over the line.

THE second equestrian to receive a prize was Shae Partridge, a member of the Glen Innes Pony Club, who picked up a junior service award for her out-of-the-saddle achievements through volunteering, inspiring and helping out younger members of the pony club. Shae is also a very talented member of the Walcha Jillaroos ladies league tag team.

EIGHT members of Zone 13’s pony clubs were recognised for their efforts in and out of the saddle by the state’s governing body. Zone 13’s chief instructor Belinda Williamson said she was “extremely proud” to have so many within the region recognised.

“WE go to a big effort to put together the paperwork and send it in but they still have to be granted the award, it is not a given,” she told Fairfax Media. “It is a big moment when you put all that together and you send it in and they are granted the awards.”

JILLAROOS

THE Jillaroos have finished second on their Group 19 competition ladder just a couple of points behind minor premiers Uralla. Both Walcha and Uralla have this weekend off before they play each other in the major semi-final the following Saturday at Woodville Oval. The winner will head directly to the grand final while the loser takes on the winner of the minor semi-final between Warialda and Bingara in the elimination preliminary final.

RAMS

WALCHA kept their chances of hosting the Central north minor semi-final alive after defeating Gunnedah 44-12 here at the Park last Saturday. Well done also to the “Reggies” who, despite being out of semi-final contention, recorded a solid 15-12 win over the Red Devils Reserve grade side.

WALCHA remain in equal third position on the competition ladder with Narrabri who sunk the Pirates last Saturday 38-37. The Rams travel to Scone this weekend and then have the bye the following Saturday, while Narrabri play Quirindi then Moree in the final two rounds.

GOLF

A REMINDER that the annual Walcha Golf Club Workplace Challenge is just around the corner. It is played under a three-person ambrose format over 18 holes. Come on, grab a couple of workmates (not compulsory) and put yourself in the frame.